As is tradition to cut off some people each new year, tech giant Microsoft is doing the same for two of its Windows Operating Sytems that have reached the end of their lives.
The Redmond-based company is planning to stop sending security updates and technical support to Windows 7 and 8.1 with the date set to January 10th. The two operating systems were launched in 2009 and 2013 respectively and have since been replaced by Windows 10 and 11 which were launched in 2015 and 2021. Devices will still be able to run the old operating systems but the lack of updates will increase their security risks.
Microsoft is suggesting consumers to download either Windows 10 or 11 for compatible devices or get new devices that ship with the two operating systems already baked in.
Browsers are also cutting off support for Windows 7 and 8.1 too. Edge, Microsoft’s browser will stop support for the two operating systems with Edge version 109 WebView2 Runtime version 109 being the last browsers to support Windows 7 and 8.1.
Google’s Chrome will stop sending updates to the two with the final versions(Chrome 109) that will support Windows 7 and 8.1 scheduled for launch on February 7th. The older Chrome version will still work but won’t continue to get security updates and new features.
It’s worth noting that Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 in October 2025.
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